Lawsuit Claims Air Canada, WestJet ‘Colluded’ On Checked Bag Fees

A proposed lawsuit filed in Regina is claiming that two major airlines colluded to fix prices on checked bag fees.

The class action suit filed in September at the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan, says WestJet and Air Canada began charging checked bags for travelers within days of each other and that it has “unjustly enriched” the companies.

The statement of claim suggests the two companies worked in concert with each other in September of 2014, when Westjet announced a $25 checked bag fee on the 15th and Air Canada moving to do the same just three days later on the 18th.

The lawsuit contends that it was not possible for Air Canada to set up a checked baggage process just three days after it was a initiated by a competitor, and that the fee produced nothing new in terms of service for the passenger.

Both airlines have declined comment due to the fact the matter is before the courts.

The suit, which has yet to be certified by the Saskatchewan court, seeks to have baggage fees refunded along with other damages.